Proxim Wireless Corp., a provider of complete indoor and outdoor wireless broadband ecosystems, recently announced that the City of Vancouver, along with ADT Advanced Integration/Intercon Security and MDT Technical Services, deployed a Proxim wireless network to extend video surveillance throughout the city during the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

Officials selected Proxim's 4.9 Ghz point-to-point and point-to-multipoint products to extend the city's public safety network and connect video surveillance cameras in areas where fiber connectivity was not an option.

As part of the overall situational awareness security scheme at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, the City of Vancouver contracted with ADT and MDT to extend the public safety network to better protect the millions of tourists and visitors. Based on the time frame and the budget available, it was not feasible to extend the fiber network to all of the locations that needed video surveillance.

"The safety and protection of visitors was a paramount goal as we prepared for the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, therefore the video surveillance network was critical to our success," said Kevin Wallinger, director of emergency management for the City of Vancouver. "We determined early on that the cost and time to extend the fiber network was not feasible, and wireless came to the rescue."

"Wireless is the obvious solution in situations where cost and physical deployment barriers are a concern. And when it came time to select a wireless solution, the performance and value that Proxim provides proved to be unmatched," said Doug Peterson, president of MDT Technical Services. "Proxim's solution enabled us to provide performance on par with wired solutions, but at a third of the cost and with much faster deployment times."

The wireless video surveillance cameras were located throughout pedestrian corridors where cameras were unable to be connected to the city's fiber backbone. ADT Advanced Integration/Intercon Security, having extensive experience in complex security integration projects and video system design, installation and monitoring, incorporated many multi-megapixel cameras from Avigilon and IP-encoded PTZ cameras from Pelco throughout the network.

ADT and MDT did evaluate other wireless solutions before selecting Proxim, but based on the performance and value that Proxim products had proven in previous deployments with MDT, the Proxim solution was chosen. In addition to this wireless video surveillance network for the 2010 Winter Olympics and Parlympics, ADT and MDT also work with the City of Vancouver to provide situational awareness for the annual HSBC Celebration of Light fireworks festival. Based on the performance of Proxim's solutions during the Olympics and the flexibility of Proxim's products, the City of Vancouver can easily re-deploy Proxim's radios where needed for camera connectivity during future events.